SHRC issues notice to police on lathicharge on students

Hyderabad, Dec 14 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) today took suo-motu cognizance of the lathicharge by the police on students belonging to SC, ST and BC communities yesterday, demanding better amenities in government-run welfare hostels, basing on newspaper and media reports.

In a notice issued to the City Police Commissioner, Commission Chairman Subhashin Reddy said the notice was returnable by January 19, 2007.

Police resorted to the lathicharge when hundreds of students, who had gathered from different parts of the state, tried to proceed towards the Assembly which was in session to highlight their problems.

Police said the students violated the route allotted to them and tried to rush towards the Assembly.

When they were stopped by a police barricade, they sat on the busy Himayatnagar Road, causing serious disruption to the heavy traffic.

Police said they had to resort to mild lathicharge to clean the traffic in which two persons were injured.

However, student leaders said the number was much more.

B V Raghavulu, State CPI(M) Secretary and member of the party's polit buro alleged that the conditions in welfare hostels were worse than those prevailing in prisons.

The SHRC taking notice of newspaper and electronic media reports issued the notice to the police Commissioner today asking was should not be taken action against the police for violation of human rights.

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